Ahimsa

Ahimsa is the result of the total blossoming of the soul and the state of Advaitic awareness, the oneness and unity of all existence. It is a state and sense of feeling of total identity with all life and creation. It results from spiritual awareness; it is a quality and attribute of the awakened Soul. It sees but one God everywhere, inherent in all beings and in every bit of creation. Such an awakened Soul begins to feel that anybody’s or any being’s happiness and unhappiness verily as its own. Such a one feels no distinction at all between oneself and others. It is pure and impersonal love flowing from the Spirit.

While the other four values, Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema are mostly subjective in their implications, stressing the individual’s own responses at different level of his personality in relation to another individual or a few individuals at the most, Ahimsa refers to one’s social obligation and general attitude towards the – entire world and all beings. It is all-expansive and all-encompassing love – love enfolding in its embrace all beings, without least distinction.

During the Summer Course on Indian Culture and Spirituality in 1978, Baba said, “We generally think that ahimsa means not causing harm to any living being. ‘Himsa’ is not merely causing physical harm, even looking at debasing things, listening to evil or wrongful words and speaking harshly amounts to Himsa (violence).”

Ahimsa is hailed by all Faiths as the highest duty of man – Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah. It does not apply to physical aspect alone. There should be non-violence in thought, word and deed. That is true Ahimsa. That is why our Swami gives a lot of emphasis on the dictum “Help Ever Hurt Never”.

LET US IMBIBE THESE FIVE-FOLD VALUES OF LIFE AND REGULATE OUR DAY TO-DAY LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF THESE.

The above five values encompass all other virtues and values of life. If we keep these values as our ideal, culture our minds and hearts imbibing these, discipline our intellect and will-power and regulate our conduct so as to conform to and to bear these values, then we will be treading the right path, promoting our own good, good of others, and living in conformity with the Divine Will and the Divine Scheme and Order.

These five human values should be deemed as the fivefold life breaths or Pancha Pranas (Prana, Apana, Udhana, Samana, Vyaana – the incoming, outgoing, upward flow, even and circulating breaths). Since the values constitute the life breath, one who does not radiate the values in one’s actions is deemed to be lifeless!

This indeed is the Sai Message, the Divine Message that Sai is teaching us through His own personal life and example, day in and day out, and all along. Our Swami says,

“Sathya is My Prachar (what I teach);
Dharma is My Aachar (the way I live);
Shanthi is My Swabhaava (the mark of My personality);
Prema is My Swaroopa (my very Nature)”

Let us tread the Sai Path, follow in his Footprints and redeem ourselves and contribute to the good of the Society and the World in our own small and humble measure.

[Source: The Path Divine, Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas, Dharmakshetra, Mumbai]